Introduction to our work on global climate law, policy and governance: supporting LDCs in the UNFCCC process

IIED supports the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other vulnerable developing countries to achieve equitable and ambitious outcomes through global decision-making. We also help individual countries prepare for the effective implementation of these decisions through national policy and legislative strengthening.

To achieve the UNFCCC's goal, all countries must be able to participate fully in formulating global climate change policies. In particular, we must take into account the concerns of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Yet many global decisions are taken without proper representation by these countries.

LDCs and other vulnerable countries often lack the capacity to participate effectively in global policymaking processes. They lack the financial resources, evidence-based research support and the technical and legal advice they need to negotiate issues effectively. Their small delegations often include new negotiators who have to learn on the job.

We support negotiators from LDCs and other vulnerable countries in five main ways: